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Wedge, October 1983

Page 1

LOWRY HILL EAST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
S3
OCTOBER 1983
2700 Fremont Ava S., Mpls. 55408
*■*
All-American Boys Prepare to
Slug It Out in November Election
by Hermann Weinlick
In many ways the two candidates for city
council - DFL Brian Coyle and independent
Tom Clarke ~ are similar. Both were raised in
good Republican families that valued service and
civic responsibility. Both are single, in their
thirties, cleanshaven. Both have a varied work
history; neither has been climbing a corporate
ladder. Clarke has spent a lot of time in volunteer
work ~ Boy Scouts, NIP, St. Stephen^ Loaves
and Fishes program. Coyle has worked in
neighborhood organizing and various liberal
causes. Both claim to understand the Wedge,
although neither lives in it; Coyle lives in Cedar-
Riverside and Clarke at 1900 Stevens. (Our gerrymandered ward extends from Cedar-Riverside to
Hennepin-Lake.) Both would probably be more
skilled at coalition-building than our present
council representative, Jackie Slater. Both, like
Slater, would be honest, hard-working, and the
kind of persons who return their phone calls.
Both understand response to constituent
concerns about city services and neighborhood
problems ~ snowplowing, troublesome landlords,
alleys, traffic, police protection, noise — as a
major responsibility of the ward representative.
But, perhaps indicative of their basic
philosophies, while Coyle promises to provide
vision and direction on city-wide issues, Clarke
promises to run the business affairs of the city well
and to use tax dollars wisely.
Clarke is a moderate Republican ~ a John
Anderson supporter, pro-choice, pro-ERA, for
affirmative action and gay rights — but is
pragmatic enough to run as an independent in this
solidly DFL ward. In addition, he doubts the need
or relevance of party labels in city politics. He
points out that incumbent DFL Jackie Slater (who
Recycling pickup
Friday October 21
Brian Coyle (left) and Tom Clarke (right)
attended the Police - Community Picnic at
Mueller Park. Voters will decide who will be alderman on Tuesday, November 8.
photo by Sandy Green
is supporting him) has often functioned as an
independent. Coyle, at first glance a liberal DFL ~
leader of the Progressive Roundtable, gay spokesperson, advocate of rent control — talks as a prag-
matist. He believes that party affiliation and other
sorts of coalition-building are important,
especially for a ward that is relatively poor and
without much political clout. Coyle says the ward
needs to be allied with the DFL, "the party with a
tradition of economic justice.''
Both lament low voter turnout. Clarke states
that if he were not running, the support of 900
DFL voters in the primary election would give
Coyle a seat on city council. Coyle cites the disproportionate power of property owners when renters
don't vote.
The basic difference in party philosophies is evident in the general attituteds of Coyle and Clarke
toward government. Clarke believes that he knows
the system well and can make it work. Basically
the system works well, although some suffer under
it ~ like the old, the out-of-work, the disabled.
"But you don't do a service by promising. The
public sector cannot house or employ everybody."
Clarke underlines his experience at city hall as an
aide to Parker Trostel, who represented the
Wedge when it was part of the seventh ward.
Clarke says he is an empathetic listener, and that
solutions to problems often come from
constituents.
On the other hand, Coyle, while working within
the system, is more impressed than Clarke with the
failings of the system. "Being an aide to Parker is
not preparation to serve Phillips, the poorest
continued on page 9
neighborhood in the ward," Coyle says of Clarke.
Drawing on his experience as a neighborhood
organizer, Coyle sees a need for a more assertive
council person who can cut through the bureaucracy and make the system work for the benefit of
more people. Citing Calhoun Square, for
instance, he says that stronger negotiation could
have secured more benefits for small businesses
affected by changes at Hennepin-Lake. In
reference to Franklin Avenue development, he
says the same, that city money should have been
spread around, rather than spent all in one block.
The votes of gays and lesbians, a significant minority in the Wedge, may be a notable factor in
this election. Coyle if elected would be the first
open homosexual in city council. "I am proud to
be what I am and to represent (gays and lesbians)
among others." But Coyle puts gay rights in the
larger context of human rights and the need to
improve the situation of many groups, including
working women, single parents, and racial minorities. Clarke, while supporting rights for homosexuals, says that "this is not an issue I am running
on." He is thankful for support from some gays
and lesbians and doesn't seek anti-gay votes. "The
issue," he says, "is who will do the best job."
Housing is an issue on which the candidates
differ, but there may be more rhetoric than substance, in that rent control does not seem likely in
the near future. Even if it were in effect, it would
mean little, because rates of occupancy and rents
are now both relatively low. Coyle has been
known as a rent-control advocate. He contends
that Clarke is financially indebted to the Multi
Housing Association, a group speaking for many
landlords. "Jack Horner (head of MHA) will call
the shots." Clarke this summer mailed to landlords a moneyraising letter that raised the spectre
of rent control if Coyle was elected. Clarke claims
he owes the MHA no favors; but he did allow the
letter to go out in his name. Coyle says that "every
candidate should spend a month on the phone at
the tenants' union." He berates Slater's oppostion
to rent control. Clarke, on the other hand, claims
that rent control is a simplistic solution to housing
problems. He sees a need to deal with a few bad
landlords, mainly speculators.
Economic development is another area where
approaches differ. Clarke without apology
supports development. It provides jobs, especially
low-skill jobs, and increases the tax base; most
development with city financial support would not
continued on page 6

This content is protected under copyright law. The copyright holder allows you to use this content for research, education or other non-commercial application as long as proper attribution is given: Hennepin County Library and the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association. Any commercial use must have the permission of the copyright holder. Please contact us at specialcoll@hclib.org or 612-543-8200 for more information.

This content is protected under copyright law. The copyright holder allows you to use this content for research, education or other non-commercial application as long as proper attribution is given: Hennepin County Library and the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association. Any commercial use must have the permission of the copyright holder. Please contact us at specialcoll@hclib.org or 612-543-8200 for more information.

Transcript

LOWRY HILL EAST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
S3
OCTOBER 1983
2700 Fremont Ava S., Mpls. 55408
*■*
All-American Boys Prepare to
Slug It Out in November Election
by Hermann Weinlick
In many ways the two candidates for city
council - DFL Brian Coyle and independent
Tom Clarke ~ are similar. Both were raised in
good Republican families that valued service and
civic responsibility. Both are single, in their
thirties, cleanshaven. Both have a varied work
history; neither has been climbing a corporate
ladder. Clarke has spent a lot of time in volunteer
work ~ Boy Scouts, NIP, St. Stephen^ Loaves
and Fishes program. Coyle has worked in
neighborhood organizing and various liberal
causes. Both claim to understand the Wedge,
although neither lives in it; Coyle lives in Cedar-
Riverside and Clarke at 1900 Stevens. (Our gerrymandered ward extends from Cedar-Riverside to
Hennepin-Lake.) Both would probably be more
skilled at coalition-building than our present
council representative, Jackie Slater. Both, like
Slater, would be honest, hard-working, and the
kind of persons who return their phone calls.
Both understand response to constituent
concerns about city services and neighborhood
problems ~ snowplowing, troublesome landlords,
alleys, traffic, police protection, noise — as a
major responsibility of the ward representative.
But, perhaps indicative of their basic
philosophies, while Coyle promises to provide
vision and direction on city-wide issues, Clarke
promises to run the business affairs of the city well
and to use tax dollars wisely.
Clarke is a moderate Republican ~ a John
Anderson supporter, pro-choice, pro-ERA, for
affirmative action and gay rights — but is
pragmatic enough to run as an independent in this
solidly DFL ward. In addition, he doubts the need
or relevance of party labels in city politics. He
points out that incumbent DFL Jackie Slater (who
Recycling pickup
Friday October 21
Brian Coyle (left) and Tom Clarke (right)
attended the Police - Community Picnic at
Mueller Park. Voters will decide who will be alderman on Tuesday, November 8.
photo by Sandy Green
is supporting him) has often functioned as an
independent. Coyle, at first glance a liberal DFL ~
leader of the Progressive Roundtable, gay spokesperson, advocate of rent control — talks as a prag-
matist. He believes that party affiliation and other
sorts of coalition-building are important,
especially for a ward that is relatively poor and
without much political clout. Coyle says the ward
needs to be allied with the DFL, "the party with a
tradition of economic justice.''
Both lament low voter turnout. Clarke states
that if he were not running, the support of 900
DFL voters in the primary election would give
Coyle a seat on city council. Coyle cites the disproportionate power of property owners when renters
don't vote.
The basic difference in party philosophies is evident in the general attituteds of Coyle and Clarke
toward government. Clarke believes that he knows
the system well and can make it work. Basically
the system works well, although some suffer under
it ~ like the old, the out-of-work, the disabled.
"But you don't do a service by promising. The
public sector cannot house or employ everybody."
Clarke underlines his experience at city hall as an
aide to Parker Trostel, who represented the
Wedge when it was part of the seventh ward.
Clarke says he is an empathetic listener, and that
solutions to problems often come from
constituents.
On the other hand, Coyle, while working within
the system, is more impressed than Clarke with the
failings of the system. "Being an aide to Parker is
not preparation to serve Phillips, the poorest
continued on page 9
neighborhood in the ward," Coyle says of Clarke.
Drawing on his experience as a neighborhood
organizer, Coyle sees a need for a more assertive
council person who can cut through the bureaucracy and make the system work for the benefit of
more people. Citing Calhoun Square, for
instance, he says that stronger negotiation could
have secured more benefits for small businesses
affected by changes at Hennepin-Lake. In
reference to Franklin Avenue development, he
says the same, that city money should have been
spread around, rather than spent all in one block.
The votes of gays and lesbians, a significant minority in the Wedge, may be a notable factor in
this election. Coyle if elected would be the first
open homosexual in city council. "I am proud to
be what I am and to represent (gays and lesbians)
among others." But Coyle puts gay rights in the
larger context of human rights and the need to
improve the situation of many groups, including
working women, single parents, and racial minorities. Clarke, while supporting rights for homosexuals, says that "this is not an issue I am running
on." He is thankful for support from some gays
and lesbians and doesn't seek anti-gay votes. "The
issue," he says, "is who will do the best job."
Housing is an issue on which the candidates
differ, but there may be more rhetoric than substance, in that rent control does not seem likely in
the near future. Even if it were in effect, it would
mean little, because rates of occupancy and rents
are now both relatively low. Coyle has been
known as a rent-control advocate. He contends
that Clarke is financially indebted to the Multi
Housing Association, a group speaking for many
landlords. "Jack Horner (head of MHA) will call
the shots." Clarke this summer mailed to landlords a moneyraising letter that raised the spectre
of rent control if Coyle was elected. Clarke claims
he owes the MHA no favors; but he did allow the
letter to go out in his name. Coyle says that "every
candidate should spend a month on the phone at
the tenants' union." He berates Slater's oppostion
to rent control. Clarke, on the other hand, claims
that rent control is a simplistic solution to housing
problems. He sees a need to deal with a few bad
landlords, mainly speculators.
Economic development is another area where
approaches differ. Clarke without apology
supports development. It provides jobs, especially
low-skill jobs, and increases the tax base; most
development with city financial support would not
continued on page 6